Causes of the Cold War

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Causes of the Cold War

• 1945-1991

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Definitions

• Communism A govt that plans and controls the
  economy
• a single political party holds power
• all goods are equally shared by the people
• Capitalism An economy where the production and
  selling of goods/services are privately owned
• goods and services are purchased by those who
  can afford them

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USSR vs. USA
Communism
Capitalism

• Government
• Leader(s)
• Economy
• Economic Focus
• Classes (poor, middle, etc.)
• Private Property
• Trading w/ others

Strong National
Natl and State govt
Usually a Dictator
3 Branches
Govt mostlydoes not interfere
All controlled by govt
Improve life for workers
Survival of the Fittest
Yes
No
No
Yes
Want exclusive rights
Free, open trade
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Causes Before WWII

• 1917 - Communists overthrew Russian govt
  (Bolshevik Revolution)
• 1918 - Communists surrendered during WWI (Quit on
  Allies)
• 1930s - Stalins kills all political opponents
  (purges)
• 1938 - Distrust over Western appeasement to
  Hitler (Austria, Czech.)
• 1939 - Signed the Nazi-Soviet Pact

• 1917 - US troops sent to fight against
  Bolsheviks during Russian civil war
  (Red Army vs. White Army)
• After WWI - US govt feared communist
  takeover Red Scare
• 1919-1921 - Palmer Raids arrested and
  deported thousands of
  suspected communists
• Refused to recognize the Soviet govt
  until 1933

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Causes During WWII

• Believed US/GB purposefully waited to create a
  2nd front in France to weaken the Soviet Union

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• Feared the Soviet Union would surrender and sign
  a separate peace with Germany (just like WWI)

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Yalta Conference 1945

• FDR, Churchill, Stalin met to
  discuss
  post-war plans
• Agreed that Germany would
  be divided up into four
  parts
  (GB US USSR Fr)
• Each had their own ideas/wants
• FDR wanted Soviet help
  in defeating Japan
  after
  Germany surrendered
• Churchill wanted free
  elections in Eastern
  Europe esp. Poland
• Stalin wanted influence in Eastern Europe for
  USSRs own future safety Germany
  permanently divided
• The United Nations would be created with Soviet
  membership (not allowed to join League of Nations
  after WWI)

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Causes After WWII

• Refused to hold free elections in Eastern Europe
• Set up communist govts in most E. Eur. Nations
• 1949 - Developed own Atomic Bomb
• Began building hundreds of nuclear bombs

• Did not tell Soviets about the Atomic Bomb prior
  to its use
• 1946 - Churchills Iron Curtain speech condemns
  communism
• 1947 - Truman Doctrine - stop the spread of
  communism worldwide Containment Policy
• Marshall Plan - billions sent to rebuild western
  Europe (esp. W. Ger, but not E. Europe)
• 1949 - Created North Atlantic Treaty Organization
  (NATO) collective defense
• 1949 - Unified Western Germany into one nation
  (West Germany)

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United States

• Became the leading financial power
• Had the strongest military (Atomic)
• Believed it was our responsibility to protect
  other free nations
• Feared communist take over of Europe/Asia
• Pres. Truman vowed to stop the spread of
  communism everywhere
• A.k.a. Containment Policy
• Domino Theory once one country falls, they
  all will
• Marshall Plan
• Creation of NATO

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Soviet Union

• Refused to leave Eastern Europe
• Helped create communist govts in each country
• Wanted allies against future attacks from the
  West
• Wanted communist revolutions around the world
• Developed own Atomic bombs
• Military buildup made the Soviet Union a world
  power
• Distrusted the U.S.
• Containment Policy is a challenge to war
• Created own alliance Warsaw Pact 1955
  (countries they refused to leave after WWII

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European Alliances by 1955